False memories as a function of language proficiency: Differences between semantic and phonological processing

Recent studies using verbal list-learning tasks have examined how language proficiency affects intrusion rates using semantic/associative lists. Typically, false memories decrease as language proficiency decreases; a finding consistent with fuzzy trace theory (gist extraction is less effective when items are less familiar; Brainerd & Reyna, Current Directions in Psychological Science, 11, 164-169, 2002) and with the activation/monitoring framework (semantic networks are less developed; Roediger et al., 2001). Native and non-native speakers (high and low proficiency, determined based on subjective and objective measures) studied phonological, semantic, and hybrid (half semantic, half phonological) lists to determine whether language proficiency affects errors across different types of associates. False recall was observed in all three proficiency groups; however, the patterns of errors differed. High proficiency and native speakers did not differ from one another: Both groups made the most errors with hybrid lists and similar error rates with semantic and phonological lists. In contrast, low proficiency speakers made significantly fewer semantic than hybrid and phonological errors. All groups showed a strong hyper-additive effect for Hybrid lists. Less proficient speakers might rely less on semantic than phonological information compared to more proficient speakers. The present work indicates that language proficiency modulates false memory broadly. (192 words).